Dedication to a Noble Cause

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) had undertaken long journeys in search of truth before he reached the shores of Kanyakumari. Spotting a small island one furlong off the coast, he swam out to it, and there engaged himself in meditation. After some time, he returned to the shore and devoted himself to the propagation of Hinduism.

A large centre has now been established on this island at a cost of 2 crore rupees. The construction, begun after Independence, was completed in 1970. The main aim of the centre is “man-making”. When it made an appeal for the recruitment of workers, dozens of highly educated men and women, as well as hundreds of young volunteers, responded to the call and dedicated their lives to continuing Vivekananda’s mission. They became life workers for this cause.

Dr. H.R. Nigendar is one of these dedicated volunteers. Previously, he held a high position in the Space Flight Centre in America, but is now content with the modest life that the centre has to offer him. He does not feel out of place there. “A scientist’s job,” he said, “is to search for truth, and my search is continuing. Earlier it was in mechanical engineering, now it is in human engineering.”

At present, the Vivekananda Centre is concentrating its work in four particular fields—education, rural development, Yoga research and the publication of literature. Hundreds of people have abandoned comfortable lives and high positions to engage in the quiet, constructive work that the Centre is conducting in various states around the country. In the words of Dr. Nigendar, “It is a rich life indeed—rich in job satisfaction.”

A living nation alone can produce highly-talented individuals, whose intellectual prowess makes them alive to lofty ideals and who are ready to dedicate their lives to a noble cause. If people of high intelligence are not ready to dedicate their lives to high ideals, but engage instead in base pursuits, then all one can say is that such a nation has lost all vision and vitality.